Reading lamp



Feb. 13, 1934. M c o D 1,946,866

READING LAMP Filed July 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I2 I f f? J Invenior Fed 4/. fidczozq Feb. 13, 1934. F, M, MAC QLD 1,946,866

READING LAMP Filed July 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r? K g flllomey Patented Feb. 13, 1934 ATENT OFFICE READING LAMP Fred M. Machold,

Pleasantville, N. Y.

Application July 28, 1933. Serial No. 632,710

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in reading lamps and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a lamp of this character which may be conveniently mounted on books, magazines, newspapers, etc, the construction and arrangement being such that ample light will be thrown on the reading matter while at the same time the eyes of the reader will be protected or shielded from the light.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a reading lamp of the aforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, light in weight, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, 20 taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and whereinz- Figure 1 1s a view in front elevation of the reading lamp, showing an upper portion thereof broken away to expose the light bulb.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a View in end elevation.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the invention, showing the same mounted on a book.

Figure 6 is a View in front elevation of a modification.

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 designates a substantiall" fiat plate of suitable material, preferably metal, which is engageable transversely with the upper portion of the back of the book or other reading matter upon which the lamp is to be mounted. At its ends, the plate 1 has formed integrally therewith forwardly and inwardly turned flanges 2 which terminate in reversely turned resilient tongues 3 beneath which the book or the like is inserted, as suggested in Figure 6 of the drawings. As will be apparent, the resilient tongues 3 frictionally grip the side portions of the open book or magazine for securing said book or magazine in open position on the plate 1 and for mounting the lamp thereon. Spring actuated clamps 4 are mounted on the upper portion of the plate 1 for securing newspapers and books, which are not wide enough to be engaged beneath the tongues 3, to said plate 1.

Rising from the plate 1 is an integral, forward- 1y inclined shade 5 having ventilating openings 6 therein. The shade 5 is coextensive with the plate 1 and has fixed in one end portion thereof a bracket 7 upon which an electric switch socket 8 is mounted. The socket 8 is for the reception or" an elongated incandescent lamp 9. A conductor cord 10 furnishes electric current for the lamp 9, said conductor cord passing through an insulating bushing 11 which is provided therefor in the back of the shade 5. A toggle switch 12 is mounted in one end of the shade 5 and interposed in the circuit to the incandescent lamp 9.

Pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the end walls of the shade 5 are legs 13 which are adapted to be swung rearwardly and downwardly when desired for supporting the reading matter and the lamp in an inclined position on a table, desk or other support when it is not desired to hold the reading matter in the hands. When the legs 13 are not in use, said legs are in the position shown in full lines in Figure 3 of the drawings.

As will be apparent, the shade 5 also constitutes a reflector for projecting light rays from the incandescent lamp 9 on to the reading matter upon which the device is mounted and toward this end the interior of said shade 5 may be highly polished. It will thus be seen that the construction and arrangement are such that ample light will be projected on to the reading matter but the eyes of the reader will be protected.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the device comprises a pair of telescopically connected sections which are designated generally by the reference numerals 14 and 15. The telescopic sections 14 and 15 permit the device to be conveniently adjusted to accommodate difierent widths of books or other reading matter. The male section 14 is slidably engaged in flanges 16 and 17 which are provided for this purpose on the lower edge of the shade portion and the lower edge of the plate portion of the female section 15. In other respects, the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 is substantially the same as that covered by Figures 1 to 5, inclusive.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, a book is designated by the reference numeral 18.

If desired, the reading lamp may be made sufiiciently long to accommodate a plurality of books or the like, or two or more of the lamps may be connected together in series in any suitable mannor.

It is believed that the many advantages of a reading lamp constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiments of the invention are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications or changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

l. A reading lamp comprising a transversely elongated plate engageable with the back of the reading matter, forwardly and inwardly directed flanges integral with the ends of the plate, said flanges terminating in substantially reversely directed resilient tongues engageable with the reading matter for securing the plate in position thereon, an integrally forwardly inclined shade rising from the plate, said shade being co-extensive wit-h the plate, an incandescent lamp mounted in the shade, switch controlled means for supplying electric current to the lamp, and supporting legs pivotally mounted on the ends of the shade, said shade having ventilating openings therein, the shade constituting a reflector for projecting light rays from the incandescent lamp on to the reading matter.

2. A reading lamp comprising a plate engageable with the reading matter, inturned flanges on the ends of the plate for the reception therebeneath of the reading matter, said flanges terminating in substantially reversely directed resilient tongues engageable with the reading matter, a shade rising from the plate, and an incandescent lamp mounted in the shade, said shade constituting a reflector for projecting light rays from the incandescent lamp on to the reading matter.

3. A reading lamp comprising a pair of telescopically connected sections, each section including a plate portion and a shade portion, an incandescent lamp mounted in the shade portions, and means on the plate portions for securing the reading matter thereto, such means including inwardly directed flanges at the side edges of the plate portions.

4. A reading lamp comprising a pair of telescopically connected sections, each section including a plate portion and a shade portion, an incandescent lamp mounted in the shade portions, and means on the plate portions for securing the reading matter thereto, said means including inwardly directed flanges on the outer ends of the plate portions for the reception therebeneath of the marginal portions of the reading matter, said flanges terminating in substantially reversely directed resilient tongues engageable with the reading matter.

FRED M. MACHOLD. 

